Carburetor



Aug. 27, 1935. l E. J. HoLMr-:s

CARBURETOR Filed D60. ll, 1933 Patented Aug. 27, 1935 UNITED STATES PTgN-T oFFicE cumplieron Ohio Application December 11, 1933, Serial No. 701,903 2 Claims. (Cl. 261-49) This invention relates to fuel supply means for internal combustion engines, and has generally in view to provide a simple, inexpensive, practical means to adapt internal combustion engines for economical and eilicientoperation using as fuel relatively heavy oil such, for example, as commercial fuel oil. More particularly, the invention has in view to provide a fuel atomizing device of exceptionally simple, inexpensive construction, and to provide for controlvof said device in a 'novel manner, whereby a proper amount of atomized fuel is fedto an engine for all speeds thereof;l

According to one practical embodiment of the invention thepresent fuel atomizing means Ais combined with an ordinary carburetor such as is commonly employed on internal combustion engines designed primarily to use gasoline as fuel, and in this connection a special object of the invention is to provide means which may readily be combined with ordinary carburetors, substantially without modification or material change in such carburetors,`to adapt the same for atomizing relatively heavy fuel substantially as efficiently as light fuel such as gasoline. Also. in this connection, another object. of the invention is to provide for control of the fuel atomizing means in a novel manner in response to opening andclosing movements of the usual throttle valve constituting part of an ordinary carburetor so that the amount of fuel supplied to the engine always is proportional to the speed of the engine as regulated by the throttle valve. In the operation of an ordinary carburetor the suction or vacuum produced in the intake manifold of the engine is utilized to draw fuel through the'fuel nozzle of the carburetor and to eiect atomization of the fuel. This is effective for the atomization of light fuels such as gasoline, but is not suitable for the atomization of relatively heavy fuels such as commercial fuel oil. Accordingly, when combined with an ordinary carburetor .the present atomizing means is designed to afford a controlled jet of air under pressure to assist engine suction in effecting atomization of the fuel, thus to adapt the carburetor for atomizing heavy fuel in a manner to permit the engine to operate efliciently using relatively ance with the invention, more or less compli-v According'to another practical embodiment of cated and expensive carburetors such as are com monly employed to atomize fuel may be eliminated in favor of f..r more simple and less expensive fuel atomizing means.

According to still another' practical embodiment of the invention, dependence on engine suction to effect atomization of the fuel again is eliminated and atomization of the fuel is effected not only by means of an air jet, but by subjecting the fuel` itself to pressure to effect a. better intermixture of the same with the air.

In connection with each of the last two mentioned embodimentsA of the invention another special object of the invention is to provide a simple, com-pact, inexpensive fuel atomizing device and to provide for control of the device in a novel manner in response to opening and closing movements of a throttle valve as in the case of the embodiment of the invention rst mentioned.

Withthe foregoing and other objects in view, which will become more fullyv apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts'as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and dened in the appended claims.

In the drawing.: Figure l is an elevation partly in section, illustrating the application of the present fuel -atomizing means to an ordinary carburetor.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 illustrating an alternative embodiment of 'the invention.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the fuel and air valve shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a. view similar to Figure 1 illustrating another alternative embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the fuel and air valve shown in Figure 4. e

Referring to the drawing in detail, rst with particular referencev to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 1, A designates, generally, a portion of an internal combustion engine of a known type such, for example, as is commonly employed to furnish power for automobiles, trucks. boats and the like, and which includes, as usual. an intake manifold I0 having connected thereto an ordinary carburetor il.

' The carburetor I l illustrated in the present instance is of a known type and comprises a mixing chamber i2, an air supply conduitv II-communicatlng with said mixing chamber, a choke duct I9 with the lower end of the fuel nozzle I 'I` and having connected therewith a fuel supply pipe 20, and a needle valve 2I for regulating the iiow of fuel through the nozzle I1.

In the ordinary operation of the carburetor I I the suction produced in the intake manifold I 0 of the engine draws fuel upwardly through the fuel nozzle I1 and at the same time draws air into the mixing chamber I2 through the conduit I3, the fuel becoming atomized or intermixed with the air in the mixing chamber and during flow of the fuel and air to the manifold I0 through the tube I5. As aforesaid, this is satis-l factory for the atomization of light fuels such as gasoline, but is not suitable for the atomization f relatively heavy fuels such as commercial fuel oil. Therefore, in order to adapt the carburetor II for the eiiicient atomization of relatively heavy fuel oils, so that such oils may be employed as fuel for the engine A, the present invention includes means for the supply of a jet of air under pressure about the fuel nozzle I1 to assist engine suction in effecting delivery of fuel from said nozzle to the mixing chamber I2 and atomization of the fuel within said chamber and within the tube I5.

As illustrated, a tube 22 surrounds the fuel nozzle- I1 in spaced relationship thereto and at its upper end is constricted, as at 23, in overlying relationship to the upper or discharge end of said nozzle I1, while communicating with said tube 22, at or near its lower end, .is a pipe 24 oige the supply of air under pressure to said In thepipe 24 is a valve y25 of any suitable type for controlling the supply of air to the tube 22, said valve being illustrated in the present instance as being of the type having a rotary valve element equipped with an operating handle in the form of a lever arm 26.

The throttle valve I is equipped with an operating lever arm 21 and, inv accordance with the invention, this lever arm is connected to the lever arm 26 of the valve 25 by a rod or link 23 so that the valve 25 is opened and closed vin response to opening and closing of the throttle valve. Consequently, air under pressure is admitted to the tube 22 and issues from .the constrieted end 23 thereof in the form of a fuel elevating and atomizing jet proportionately to opening and closing of the throttle valve so that a correct amount of fuel f or each different engine speed as regulated by the throttle valve is as'- sured, it being pointed outl in this connection that the rod or link 28 is suitably connected with the lever arms 26, 21 for adjustment therealong to vary the effective lengths of said lever armseto obtain a desired amount of opening or closing movement of the'valve 25 for a given amount of opening or closing movement of the throttle valve I6. v

Air under pressure may be supplied to the pipe 24 from any desired source; for example, from the cylinder or cylinders of the engine or-from a pump or tank. Also, means may be provided if desired to heat the oil prior to and Veven after..

vits equivalent, valve controlled means for regulating the supply of air under pressure through said tube and suitable means whereby the valve 25 is opened and closed in harmony with opening and closing of the engine throttle or variation ln speed of the engine. Bythe provision of such means a carburetor II of ordinary construction is rendered eective for the atomization of relatively heavy fuel oil in a manner such that such'oil may advantageously be used as fuel.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawing, it will be observed that the present fuel atomizing means is of exceptionally simple, inexpensive construction and is of s uch design that any necessity of a carburetor such as is shown in Figure l is entirely eliminated. In other words, in lieu of the carburetor II of Figure 1 there is connected with the exhaust manifold I0 of the portion 29 of the tube I5'. In any event, in the i l bottom ywall of the tube I5', 29 is threaded or otherwise suitably mounted a valve casing 3I having an air nozzle 32 which is vertically disposed and which opens upwardly into said tube I5', 29 preferably to one side of the pivotal axis of the throttle valve I6 so that when said throttle valve' is open atomized fuel directed upwardly `from the nozzle 32 does not impinge directly against the throttle valve but is permitted to flow substantially unobstructedly by the same.

Extending laterally into the valve casingl 3I directly above the air nozzle 32 is a fuel nozzle 33 which is connected by a conduit I9 with a float chamber I8' which may conveniently comprise part of the tube structure I5', 29, orwhich may be mounted on said tube structure or in any other suitable manner at a desired or convenient location with respect thereto.

A pipe 34 is connected with the valve casing 3| for the supply of air under pressure vfrom any desired source to the air nozzle 32, while suitably arranged in said valve casing 3I or, alternatively, in thev pipe 34, is a valve 35 for regulating the flow of air to the nozzle 32. In the present instance the valve 35 is of the rotary type having an operating lever arm 26', and in accordance with the invention the operating lever arm 21 of the throttle valve I6 is connected to said lever arm 26' by a rod or link 28' so that the valve 35 is opened and closed in harmony with opening and closing of the throttle valve. Consequently, the amount of air under pressure which is admitted to the nozzle 32 is proportional to the speed of the engine as regulated by the throttle valve. The air in issuing from thenozzle 32 across the end of the fuel nozzle 33 acts to draw fuel from the latter nozzle and to atomize the fuel so drawn for admixture with atmospheric a,o1a,ses

air entering the tube l5' through the lateral portion 2! of said tube. Thus.a very simple yet emcient arrangement is provided for the use of relatively heavy. fuel as the operating medium for the engine. y

As in the case of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure l, the link or rod 28' of the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 preferably is adjustably connected with the lever arms 21', 2l' so that the edective lengths of said lever arms may be varied to obtain desired amounts of opening and closing movements of the air valve for given amounts of opening and closing movements of the throttle valve il'.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invenv tion illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawing, it will be 'observed that the arrangement in general is similar to the arrangement illustrated invFigures 2 and 3 in that a valve casing lla is mounted similarly to the valve casing Il in the bottom wall of a tube structure ila. 29a, but that the fuel nozzle 32a is disposed vertically and is surrounded by an air tube 22a as in the Figure l embodiment of the invention. The' fuel, supplied under pressure from-any desired sourceand in any desired manner through a pipe 20a to the fuel nozzle 32a, is controlled by a suitable rotary valve zia, and air under pressure from any de- 'sired source is supplied to the tube 22a through a pipe 34a and is under the control of a suitable rotary valve 35a. The valves Ila and a are equipped with operating lever arms 2lb and Ita, respectively, and the throttle valve Ita in ,the tube lia is equipped with an operating lever arm 21a, which lever arm is connected with the lever arms 2lb, a by rods or links 28o. 2lb, respectively, or in any other suitable manner. so that for a given amount of opening or closing movelment of the throttle valve the valves Ila. #la are opened or closed desired amounts to admit proper amounts of fuel and vaix to the nozzle 12a and the tube 22a to assure a proper amount of properly atomized fuel lbeing supplied to the engine for all speeds thereof as regulated by the throttle valve. ABecause of forcing the fuel under pressure through the nozzle ila, in conjunction with atomizing air supplied under pressure through thetube 22a,amorepositiveatolnizingeifectis obtained than when dependence is placed on an airjetto drawthefuelthrougliitsnonle. However, any one of the simple. inexpemive forms of theinvention illustrated provides for the use o f heavy oil forthe economical and emcient operation of an internal combustion engine of the type designed primarily for operation using gasoline or other relatively light fuel as fuel.

Without further description it is thought that the novel features and the advantages of the inventioni willl be apparent.` It is desired to point out, however, that while only certain specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, the invention is readily capable of embodiment in various other specifically different mechanical structures within its spirit and scope -as defined in the appended claims.

Iclaim:

l. Fuel atomizing and supply means for internal combustion engines comprising a' conduit for connection with the engine, a fuel nozzle arranged. todischarge into said conduit, an air nozzle arranged to discharge into said conduit in such relationship to said fuel nozzle as to effect atomization of fuel nowing from said fuel nozzle, a rotatably adjustable valve controlling the fuel supply through said fuel nozzle, a rotatably adjustable valve. co trolling the air supply through said air nozzle and a connection between said valves whereby they are opened and closed in unison, said air and fuel nonies and said valves and the connection therebetween being embodied in a single unitary structure connectible with and removable from the'conduit as a single unit.

2. Fuel atomizing and supPLv means for internal combustion engines comprising an air supply tube to be screwed at its inner end into anengine fuel mixture supplyconduit, a fuel noule within said tube, said fuel nourrie having an open inner enddisposed adjacent to the open inner end of said tube whereby air flowing from the tube effects atomizaticn of fuel flowing from the nozzle. a casing extending laterally from said tube to supply air thereto and having a rotatably adjustable valve therein to control the air supply. a casing exte laterally from said tube to supply fuel 'to said fuel noasle and having a-rotatably adjustable' valve therein to control the fuel supply, anda link and lever bonnection between 

